Cricket - Top billing for on-song Netherfield (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cricket - Top billing for on-song Netherfield

4:20pm Thursday 5th May 2011 in Sport

NETHERFIELD sit top of both Division 1 and 2 at the end of the Bank Holiday double header.

There was a thrilling last-over finish to Netherfield first team’s home match against Fleetwood on Monday, Newcomer Marc Brown, the Cumberland County batsman who had previously played for Carlisle, looked to be the star of the show as he compiled 108 before he was run out.

Netherfield forged their way to a massive 282 for five off the 50 overs with stand-in professional Dieter Klein making a brave 81 off 72 balls including seven fours and four sixes.

Klein’s ankle injury meant he had to bat with a runner and was unable to bowl.

Brown’s innings came off 143 balls and he hit 12 fours and a six.

John Huck ensured the runs kept coming at a brisk rate with his 44 off only 34 deliveries, including four sixes.

Fleetwood’s opening bowler took three wickets but they cost him 81 runs.

On such a good strip, wickets were difficult to come by and half-centuries from Fleetwood’s Chris Stanhope (57) and Adam Parker (56) kept them in the contest.

But it was Marc Hadwin who began to turn the screw for Netherfield, the leg-spinner going on to take 6 for 62 from his 16.3 overs.

As the drama unfolded and Fleetwood faded, Hadwin produced a telling delivery to have Fleetwood skipper Kieran McGann caught by skipper Chris Parry with just three balls left.

Meanwhile, Kendal’s first team were enjoying their first league success at Carnforth and the emphatic nine-wicket win came in fine style.

Another Cumberland batsman, opener Jonathan Miles took advantage of a run-laden Lodge Quarry wicket to hit his first century for the Shap Road side.

Miles and sub-pro Werner Coetsee shared an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 210, with Miles finishing on 132, including 18 fours and three sixes, while Coetsee supported superbly for 99 as Kendal swept to victory with 13 overs to spare..

In Carnforth’s innings, professional Gareth Pedder top-scored with 77 as they posted what appeared to be a competitive 246 for 9.

Openers Ryan Nelson (53) and skipper Adam Hornby (50) had put on their second century opening stand of the season, adding 103 before Hornby was caught behind.

Pick of the Kendal bowlers was Stu Parkin, who bowled with concentration and control and was rewarded with five for 62 off 17 overs.